WEEKLY UPDATE 23 MARCH 2024

First round of the Individual Snooker this week, although as it turned out, very few games were actually played at the normal tine and at the venue drawn. However, by the end of the day all eight matches had been played, which is excellent news, with the quarter final draw to be made at the League Committee Meeting on Wednesday (27th).

Matches played ahead of the date resulted in Ihjaz Hussain, Ian Ford and Brian Robinson beating Ralph Allan,  Dave Howarth and Gareth Kershaw. In a game played on Tuesday afternoon, Trevor Kershaw beat John Allan 2 - 1. It didn't look like going that way when, after Trevor broke off, John displayed some excellent potting to make a break of 18 and was soon leading 30-1, and a little while later 45-2. Trevor allowed the game to run into the colours, but only to provide opportunity to pot a few balls, before John potted blue, pink and black to conclude a petty quick frame. The second frame was almost a complete reverse, as Trevor did most of the scoring for a very comfortable win. With only about 45 minutes gone, it looked like a short session but the third frame was more cagey and took almost as long as the first two combined. Not much went right for John in the final frame and Trevor did little wrong, to complete a 2 - 1 win

In one of three evening games at Princeville, I didn't trouble the scorers too much, as Jeremy Dixon won 2 -0 - the second frame being closer than the first. The other match at Princeville had been switched from the Deaf Centre, with Peter Wood playing Mick Cockcroft. This one went much the same way as the afternoon game. Visitor Peter Wood ran away with the first frame and Mick Cockcroft did likewise in the second. Mick had a 14 point handicap advantage over the current trophy holder, and early in the third frame had an 18 break to establish a commanding lead. Mick was now full of confidence, while Peter perhaps was left wishing he had played the match at the Deaf Centre, as he suffered his first ever defeat in this competition, having won the trophy in his first two years of entering.

In the all Pudsey encounter, Richard Bowes beat Peter Allan 2 - 0. Richard needed blue, pink and black to snatch the first frame, but a 35 break in the second meant that Peter already needed snookers when he fouled the blue attempting the brown. A free ball with black over the pocket prompted Peter to concede

Chris Jarvis is the eighth quarter finalist, after Brian Haigh conceded their game due to an ongoing family concern

This coming week is the play off semi finals, with champions Pudsey A hosting Deaf Centre B and Deaf Centre A at home to Princeville D. There are no matches on Easter Tuesday, with the final of the play offs on 9th April, when home advantage will go to the finalist finishing highest in the end of season league table

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary